NHRA dragsters score big for local children’s charities

California non-profit groups will benefit from more than $83,000 raised during the 29th Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.|

California children’s nonprofit groups will benefit from more than $83,000 raised during the 29th Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.

The proceeds from the majority of events will benefit Sonoma County youth organizations through the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of the raceway, which has distributed more than $5.1 million to qualified youth groups since 2001.

Fundraising kicked off on Thursday at the 10th annual Eric Medlen Nitro Night, which raised more than $41,000. The evening honors the memory of Medlen, a native of Oakdale in the San Joaquin Valley, who succumbed to injuries sustained from a testing accident in 2007. All proceeds from the evening benefit SCC in Medlen’s name. Since its inception, this event has raised more than $240,000.

A number of popular NHRA personalities highlighted the evening, including Jack Beckman, Ron Capps, John Force, Courtney Force, Ashley Force Hood, Scotty Pollacheck, Tony Pedregon and J.R. Todd, as well as Funny Car legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme. More than 100 attendees turned out for the dinner at Bay Club Stone Tree Golf club in Novato, including Medlen’s mother, Mimi, and his father, John.

Highlights of the evening included a wine and hors d’ oeuvres reception sponsored by First Republic Bank, and a Texas Hold’em-style charity poker demonstration, presented by McDonald’s and the Costa Organization. The evening closed out with a live auction for a custom, engraved wine bottle, a custom Medlen-themed helmet and signed case of Patron tequila, which netted more than $19,000.

Additionally, more than $1,400 was raised from donations at the Eric Medlen Ice Cream Social. Following the final round of eliminations, fans were invited to enjoy a free scoop of ice cream, compliments of Save Mart Supermarkets, and make a donation to SCC.

Throughout the weekend, more than $4,700 was collected at two interactive fan booths, as Great Clips, which set up a mobile salon in the paddock, raised more than $4,000, and the SCC “Little Wheels, Big Fun” raffle brought in nearly $700 in ticket sales.

The first-ever Speedway Children’s Charities NHRA online auction, featuring race-weekend experiences and NHRA collectibles, raised another $1,000 for Sonoma County youth groups.

In addition to the proceeds generated for SCC, Levy Restaurants, the official caterer of Sonoma Raceway, hosted seven local nonprofit groups to support concession stands around the facility. In return for their hard work, Levy gives back a portion of sales to support those nonprofit organizations. These groups, including California Martial Arts Institute, Fairfield Falcons Youth Football, Native Sons of the Golden West, O’Hana Wa’a outrigger Club, Petaluma High School Cheer, Rancho Cotate High School Cheer and Vallejo Raiders Youth Football, received a total of nearly $35,000 from NHRA weekend.

Levy Restaurants also donated almost 2,000 pounds of food to Food Runners, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that collects and distributes quality, perishable and prepared foods to those in need.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.